Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth (L), accompanied by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees Air Pressure Gen. Dan Caine (R), speaks throughout a information convention on the Pentagon on Thursday concerning the U.S. airstrikes in opposition to Iran’s nuclear amenities.
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos North America
Putting a combative tone, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth lambasted the media, saying it was extra targeted on “cheering in opposition to” President Trump than overlaying a “traditionally profitable assault” on Iranian nuclear websites.
“President Trump directed essentially the most advanced and secretive army operation in historical past,” Hegseth declared at a Pentagon information convention. “It was a convincing success leading to a ceasefire settlement” within the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the U.S.
He condemned the leak of a preliminary report from the Protection Intelligence Company, which U.S. officers, talking on situation of anonymity, shared Tuesday with information organizations, together with NPR.
The report, primarily based on info only a day-and-a-half after the U.S. assault, described the injury as “restricted” and stated the strike could have set again the Iranian nuclear program by only a matter of months. Hegseth stated the doc famous this was a “preliminary, low-confidence report that may proceed to be refined.”
Trump has responded angrily to the media tales citing that report and has claimed repeatedly that the Iranian program was “completely obliterated.”
Trump has not cited proof for this declare, however Hegseth and different high administration officers have stepped in to again the president.
“President Trump created the situations to finish the conflict. Decimating, select your phrase, obliterating, destroying, Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth stated.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe issued an announcement Wednesday saying Iran’s nuclear program has been “severely broken” and any try to rebuild it must be completed “over the course of years.” The CIA not often points public statements on such delicate issues.
Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated on X that “Iran’s nuclear amenities have been destroyed. If the Iranians selected to rebuild, they must rebuild all three amenities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) completely.”
Hegseth repeatedly criticized the media, citing plenty of information organizations and reporters by identify, for what he referred to as “an excessive amount of irresponsible reporting.”
Standing subsequent to Hegseth on the Pentagon briefing, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, Gen. Dan Caine, caught a extra reserved tone.
He recounted a U.S. effort, courting again greater than 15 years, to develop and take a look at the weapon that went into U.S. strike in Iran, which named Operation Midnight Hammer.
Gen. Caine stated the strikes by the B-2 Stealth Bombers, which dropped 14 bunker-busting bombs on Iran, went precisely based on plan.
He stated it was not his function to carry out a battle injury evaluation, noting that is the duty of the assorted U.S. intelligence companies.
“We do not grade our personal homework,” Caine stated.
